in America." Among its varied programs are seminars and
workshops that draw top scholars from many nations.
I attend a seminar on England's early years in America,
which explains much about our nation's roots. This also leads
me to such Folger treasures as Capt. John Smith's GenerallHis
torie of Virginia(with its engraving of his rescue by Pocahontas)
and to Joyfull Newes Out of the Newe Founde Worlde, extolling
the medicinal virtues of "certaine Hearbes ... and Drugges of
the West Indies" such as tobacco-against which King James I
directed his Counterblasteto Tobacco. A colloquium on Renais
sance women draws me back evenings. Moralists of the time ar
raigned them as "Lewde, idle, froward, and unconstant"; yet
ShakespeareLives at the Folger
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